Steering - Tie Rod Ball Stud Housing Alignment Procedure
NUMBER: 19-001-11 REV.AGROUP: Steering
DATE: August 09, 2011
THIS BULLETIN SUPERSEDES SERVICE BULLETIN 19-001-11, DATED January 13, 2011, WHICH SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM YOUR FILES. ALL REVISIONS ARE HIGHLIGHTED WITH **ASTERISKS** AND INCLUDE ADDITIONAL MODELS
AFFECTED.
SUBJECT:
Tie Rod Ball Stud Housing Alignment Procedure
OVERVIEW:
This bulletin describes procedures how to assure parallel alignment of the right and left steering tie rod ball stud housings.
MODELS:
2008-2010 (DM) 4500/5500 Cab Chassis
2011 (DP) 4500/5500 Cab Chassis
**2010-2011 (DJ) 2500 Pickup (4x4 Only)**
**2010-2011 (D2) 3500 Pickup (4x4 Only) **
**2010-2011 (DD) 3500 Cab Chassis**
**2006-2009 (DH) 2500/3500 Pickup or 1500 Mega Cab (4x4
Only)**
**2006-2009 (D1) 3500 Pickup (4x4 Only)** **2007-2009 (DC) 3500 Cab Chassis**
**2008-2011 (DX) (Mexico) Regular Cab Chassis** **2005 (DH) 2500/3500 Pickup (4x4 Only)** **2003-2004 (DR) 2500/3500 Pickup (4x4 Only)**
NOTE:
**This bulletin applies to 2500 and 3500 RAM Pickups built after February 14, 2008 (MDH0214XX). All other models are affected for the entire model year(s) specified above.**
NOTE:
**In some cases vehicles originally equipped with haltenburger linkages may have been retrofitted with cross car linkages and will require an inspection.**
NOTE:
**This bulletin is only for vehicles equipped with recirculating ball stud steering system, not rack and pinion. **
DISCUSSION:
Right to left tie rod ball stud housings must be aligned parallel to one another and not exceed +/-3 degrees of combined parallelism. This procedure is required any time service is performed to either the tie rod or when performing a front end alignment or toe set procedure.
CAUTION:
Failure to properly perform the parallel alignment procedure may lead to tie rod damage.
DIAGNOSIS:
1. **With the vehicle on a level surface and in the parked position the service advisor can verify the steering system.**
2. **Look under the front of the vehicle and inspect the steering linkage at the steering
damper mounting point.**
3. **Was the steering system a haltenburger as shown in (Fig. 1).
a. Yes >>> This bulletin does not apply, continue further diagnosis
b. No >>> Proceed to parallel alignment procedure.**
SPECIAL TOOLS/EQUIPMENT REQUIRED:
PARALLEL ALIGNMENT PROCEDURE:
1. Ensure the vehicle is on a level surface with weight of front tires. Ensure the front wheels are in the straight ahead position.
2. Make sure the circular bottom plane of the left and right tie rod ball stud housings are free of debris and burrs and if there is any remove them (Fig. 2).
3. Measure the right (passenger side) and Left (driver side) tie rod ball stud housing angles from underneath the truck. Hold tie rod alignment adapter tool (Miller # 10326-1) securely under the circular bottom plane of the ball stud housing (Fig. 3).
NOTE:
Ensure the tool makes contact with the entire perimeter of the ball stud housing and not resting on the domed cap or grease fitting.
4. Mount an inclinometer with a magnetic bottom (Miller # 10326-2) on the flat bottom surface of the adapter in the fore-aft orientation (Fig. 4).
5. Measure and record the right tie rod angle first to establish a baseline for the truck. Then measure and record the left tie rod angle using the same procedure used on the right tie rod. The angle on the inclinometer is positive when the needle is forward of the 0 degree mark (pointing toward the front of the truck on both the left or right sides) (Fig. 5) and negative when aft of zero (pointing toward the rear of the truck) (Fig. 6).
6. Calculate the amount of misalignment between the right and left tie rod ball stud housings by adding or subtracting the left and right measurement as shown.
7. If the combined ball stud housing misalignment value is +/-3 degrees or less, no further action needs to be taken. If the misalignment value calculated in Step # 6, is greater than +/-3 degrees, proceed to Step # 8.
8. Loosen the tie rod adjuster clamp(s) nut (Fig. 8) and realign the left ball stud housing by rotating the left outer tie rod until the ball stud housings are aligned. When complete, tie rod alignment measurement must be +/-3� or less.
9. Tighten the adjuster clamp nut to 40 ft-lb (+/-10 ft-lb) confirm ball stud housing alignment is +/-3 degrees or less. Verify toe-in is within tolerance. NOTE: ANY FUTURE ALIGNMENT PROCEDURES OR SUSPENSION COMPONENT REPLACEMENTS MUST USE THIS BALL SOCKET ALIGNMENT PROCEDURE WITH THE INCLINOMETER TO ASSURE BALL STUD SOCKET ALIGNMENT.
POLICY:
Information Only: This procedure will be paid through standard tie rod installation and alignment procedures.
Disclaimer:
This bulletin is supplied as technical information only and is not an authorization for repair.